I'm currently in my OB/Peds rotation. In Peds- since there's only so much space at the local children's hospital for students, we get sent out to see different things. Home health, School nurse, daycare observation.
Well, today I was supposed to go on my home health observation. I did what I was supposed to- called the nurse Monday morning (left a voicmail at 8am). Heard nothing from her. Left several more voicemails. Talked to another student- who said that this nurse calls kind of late (it was after 7pm) and to just wait. Well- I should have gone with my gut and callled the office. Because that's the next step if you hear nothing.
I had heard nothing from her- so I called the home health office this morning. Turns out that this woman has called out sick for the week, and they have nobody else for me to go with. So no clinical. This nurse is going to love how many voicemails I left LOL.
And- they said they called my teacher (but they didn't tell me who she was) but got no answer. So I sent an email off to my teacher and told her what happened, and that they tried to call her. She said that she was in the office until 4:30 yesterday and got no such call. SIGH. Love the lack of communication.
She was apologetic. And she said I could switch next week, and not do school nurse, and try home health again if they had space for me (which they did). This way too, there's someone in my class who hasn't been able to see anything outside of the hospital, so that person's going to take my school nurse slot.
We have 15 hours of clinical that we can miss this semester. And now they're taking the 6.5 that I missed today out of that Kind of annoys me since it wasn't my fault that today got canceled. I missed 5 last week, but that was b/c I was sick, showing symptoms and I was supposed to be on a pediatric hemology/oncology floor. I'm sorry but I'm not potentially exposing some child with a compromised immune system to my germs if I don't have to. So I'm still within the hours I can miss without having to make up anything (though I think I'd be annoyed if I had to make up the time too).
I understand the whole point of you need "X" amount of clinical hours in order to graduate. So maybe that's why they're taking them from the banked hours. And- when I think about it, if you take a day off from work- even if it's not your fault (like my dh's had to do b/c I've had school stuff going on, and I've had a kid that needed something) they get charged vacation days.
I don't even think it's worth arguing the staff about. We're the last RN program anyhow- they're switching it over to a BSN program in August, so the rules are going to change anyhow.
Just my minor annoyance with nursing school for the day
If given the opportunity to make up the hours, I would. You then have banked the hours back again should another emergency occur. Never know when something is going to happen.
We've only got 3 more days of clinical this semester counting tomorrow. But that's another reason why I'm going in. I don't think I'm going to have the same problem with home health next week. I think they were just short b/c it's been beautiful in this area this week, AND it's spring break for the kids.
But you never know, and I'd hate to have the same thing happen next Monday that happened this Monday- then I'd have to make it up.
Hang in there. Nursing school is full of these situations, especially regarding clinical, that seem so unfair. There is really a valuable lesson to be learned here on adaptation. As nurses, we are going to have to deal with adapting to situations very quickly and be able to perform our tasks accurately despite the amount of notice we have been given. Try to keep up your positive attitude and I am sure you will excel with your education and career. PS-at our school, you are charged 250.00 per clinical missed, despite the reason(even medical) so it could always be worse! Best of luck :-)
Kind of annoys me since it wasn't my fault that today got canceled. I missed 5 last week, but that was b/c I was sick, showing symptoms and I was supposed to be on a pediatric hemology/oncology floor. I'm sorry but I'm not potentially exposing some child with a compromised immune system to my germs if I don't have to. So I'm still within the hours I can miss without having to make up anything (though I think I'd be annoyed if I had to make up the time too). 
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
If given the opportunity to make up the hours, I would. You then have banked the hours back again should another emergency occur. Never know when something is going to happen.